Tyler from Virginia is a history buff and board game guru, but through much of his life he struggled find confirmations for his diagnoses of Dyslexia and Auditory Processing Disorder. After finding educators that helped him realize that being different is okay, Tyler was inspired to complete his High School Diploma, a degree from Nova’s […]
Patti Singleton
Digital Storytelling Series – Elana from Fairfax, VA
Elena is a 20 year-old autistic woman who lives in Fairfax, VA. Adopted from Russia, Elena experienced childhood in a new country with adoptive parents that assisted her with getting adjusted in public school. In this episode, Elena shares some of her experiences in mental healthcare systems from multiple states, grade school and college, and […]
Digital Storytelling Series – Raji from Fairfax, VA
Raji Azar Jr. is a 34 year-old autistic man from Fairfax, Virginia. In adolescence, Raji was placed into a variety of exclusive and inclusive situations with his peers due to his disability. Yet, despite many of the stigmas that might have held him back, he has earned an associate degree in Applied Sciences, and certificates […]
Digital Storytelling Series – Karina from Fairfax, VA
Karina Freilich is a 29-year-old autistic woman from Fairfax, VA. She was born in Russia but spent much of her childhood and adolescence adjusting to the education and mental health care systems in the United States, where she earned hastily presumed diagnoses of bipolar depression. Today, Karina has a part-time job with a positive community […]
Digital Storytelling Series – Adam from Burke, VA
This story is about Adam, a 36-year old man living with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy from Burke, Virginia. Adam discusses his daily life living with a physical disability including the supports he needs, the assistive technology he uses, his transition into a group home, and obstacles he has faced in getting mental health treatment. These […]
Digital Storytelling Series – Micah from Louisville, KY
Micah Peace is a twenty-six year old autistic person from Louisville, KY. After receiving a false diagnosis of Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder, they lived much of their childhood and adolescence confused about why pharmaceutical medications seemed to produce a negative effect on their behavior and habits. During their transition into college, Micah spoke with other professionals about the possibility of being autistic. As a result, their life trajectory has changed for the better. Micah now advocates for others with autism, as a founding member of the Kentucky Autism Spectrum Alliance.
Digital Storytelling Series: Jessica from Annandale, VA
In her interview, Jessica talks about dealing with anxiety and depression, therapy, and reading about Asperger’s for the first time.
